Domestic Abuse

As advocates, we work with those affected by domestic abuse. We have worked with many men and women, in the community, over the phone, and in a shelter program, and have had many conversations with them around their domestic abuse experiences leading to services.

We ask them during conversations, screenings, intake processes and during in person advocacy appointments about what experiences led them to need agency services.

We ask them to identify how they got to the point of domestic violence, so they can follow a more positive path into the future that they really want. Abuse tends to be based upon an abuser's insecurities, fears and their inability to control one's own life. It can start with seemingly small and insignificant comments and escalate rather quickly.

It is important for clients to examine and understand their past, learn from the experiences, and do their best to not beat themselves up, and taking action to change what they don’t like into what you do like by living in the present and looking to focus on what they want in the future.

Many people who have or who are experiencing abuse feel embarrassed at some stage, saying to themselves: how did it get this far, what happened, how could I have let this happen? A commonly held belief is that Domestic Violence is only committed by strong men against weak women or that only poor people experience domestic violence. This is in no way true. Domestic Violence does not discriminate against race, income, gender, age, etc.

Understanding the dynamics of domestic violence will help clients to:

* Forgive themselves * Identify early warning signs * Take back their power * Let go of the past and plan their future * Stop the cycle of abuse * Regain control of their lives * Build healthy relationships * Identify behavior patterns

Domestic violence is in every neighborhood across the nations. Whether it is emotional, verbal, physical or mental abuse it exists. It is important to know that people are blindsided and manipulated by abuse everyday, and recognizing it is the key to overcoming the abuse.

Domestic violence can be defined as a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner.

Abuse is physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure or wound someone.

Domestic violence can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender. It can happen to couples who are married, living together or who are dating. Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels.

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Domestic Abuse Help